Which one should you use?
While pas d'argent is the standard way to say one has no money, you can replace pas with plus to form plus d'argent, which means "no more money" (implying the person has run out).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, you might use Je suis à court d'argent (I am out of money), Je n'ai plus d'argent (I don't have any more money) or Je ne dispose pas de fonds (I don't have any funds). In informal settings, Je suis fauché(e) is used to say "I'm broke" and pas de sous is a common, slightly old-fashioned or informal way to say one has no money. For very colloquial slang, you can use pas de thunes to mean "no cash" or "no dough".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase pas d'argent, the d' is a contraction of de used because the following word argent begins with a vowel. When using pas d'argent with the verb avoir (to have), the negative structure requires placing ne… pas around the conjugated verb, as seen in the form n'a pas d'argent.
Did you know?
- The slang term fauché for being broke literally means 'mown down', as if the person were grass cut by a scythe.
- The word argent means both 'money' and the chemical element 'silver'. This reflects a historical period when currency was primarily silver-based.
- The word pas in your negative phrase originally meant 'a step'. It evolved from the expression 'not a step' to mean 'not at all'.
Examples in context
- Il n'y a pas d'argent.There's no money.This sentence is useful for stating that there is no money available.Tatoeba #3648421 by sacredceltic, translation #2901207 by Hybrid
- Sami n'a pas d'argent.Sami has no money.This sentence is useful for stating that Sami has no money.Tatoeba #7355639 by tras, translation #7353198 by OsoHombre
- Elle n'a pas d'argent.She has no money.This sentence is useful for stating that she has no money.Tatoeba #11803194 by lbdx, translation #11803198 by ddnktr
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing their weekend plans at a cafe.
- GabrielOn va au cinéma ce soir ?Are we going to the cinema tonight?
- LéaDésolée, je n'ai pas d'argent en ce moment.Sorry, I have no money at the moment.
- GabrielCe n'est pas grave, je peux payer.It is not a problem, I can pay.
- LéaC'est très gentil de ta part, Gabriel.That is very kind of you, Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
